The constitution of a new municipal protest rapid response team almost led to a walkout of opposition parties in KwaDukuza Council last week.
The purpose of the rapid response team is to ensure protests are attended to timeously and mechanisms are created to rather solve issues before they escalate into protests.
This came as a provincial directive and each municipal team is to work in conjunction with province should any major protests arise.
But when the 5 nominees were all members of the African National Congress (ANC) opposition parties cried foul.
Speaker Dolly Govender was nominated as chairperson, with mayor Lindi Nhaca, deputy-mayor Thulani Ntuli, chief whip Humphrey Mbatha and ward 29 councillor Sicelinjabulo Cele filling the remaining spots.
“Let us include all the other political parties. If we elect all these councillors from one party you are undermining everyone else,” said Independent Alliance (IA) caucus leader, Melisizwe Ntleko.
As the outcry rose, ANC members put forward a motion to delay the item for a special council meeting, but opposition parties wanted a vote to either expand the number of members or change the team’s representation.
To restore order, speaker Govender allowed time for caucus.
“We have been bullied for too long, we cannot let this continue,” said ActionSA councillor Aresh Singh during the opposition caucus discussion.
The group agreed that if a vote was not allowed all opposition parties would walk out in protest.
After council reconstituted, the caucus was for naught as the vote was held, ending 30 to 20 in favour of the original response team constitution.
A similar concern emerged among opposition councillors about the upcoming appointment of a new chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC).
As part of coalition agreements, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) was initially given the role and councillor Dicco Mkhize filled it.
Following her passing on December 5 last year, the post has remained vacant and it is feared it might now be relinquished to ANC control if put to a vote.
The item is set to be tabled in the next ordinary council meeting on February 24.
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